RARE OCCURRENCE OF LOBULAR CAPILLARY HAEMANGIOMA IN MAXILLARY POSTERIOR SEGMENT INVOLVING THE ALVEOLAR MUCOSA

A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is one of the inflammatory hyperplasias seen in the oral cavity. This term is a misnomer because the lesion is unrelated to infection and in reality arises in response to various stimuli such as low-grade local irritation, traumatic injury or hormonal factors. PG is predominantly seen in the second decade of life in young adult females. PGs generally are soft, painless, and deep red to reddish-purple in colour. It shows a striking predilection for the maxillary anterior area. Also, the majority of PGs are found on the marginal gingiva with only 15% of the tumours on the alveolar part. There are two kinds of PG namely lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH type) and non-LCH type, which manifest as distinct entities and differ in many aspects. Although excisional surgery is the treatment of choice for it, some other treatment protocols such as the use of Nd:YAG laser, flash lamp pulsed dye laser, cryosurgery, intralesional injection ofethanol or corticosteroid and sodium tetradecylsulfatesclerotherapy have been proposed. We hereby present a rare case report of lobular capillary hemangioma occurring in the maxillary posterior region. Also, contrary to its site specificity, it involved the attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa, thereby presenting a diagnostic dilemma. The various differences between the LCH and Non-LCH type PG are also discussed emphasising their different pathways of evolution.